Environmentalists lined up 60 rain barrels on the steps of the legislature in a stunt protesting a proposed oilsands mine.

Greenpeace's Mike Hudema on Wednesday said the dozens of 200-litre barrels represented the amount of waste that would be dumped into a tailings pond every 30 seconds, should Total E&P Canada's Josyln North Mine Project project be approved.

"I think it's hard for most people to understand just how big these tailings lakes are and how many toxins are entering our environment every single day," said Hudema.

"This, hopefully gives them a visual. When you think about 60, 200-litre barrels every 30 seconds, I think that starts to be fathomable to people."

Less than a dozen people and a handful of reporters showed up to see the morning demonstration.

The proposed open-pit oilsands mine is about 70 km north of Fort McMurray. The project has the potential to produce 100,000 barrels of bitumen a day over the 20-year life of the project, officials have said.

It's expected to generate over $10 billion in provincial and federal taxes and royalties.

A joint provincial and federal hearing has yet to rule on the project's fate.

A hearing into the matter began Sept. 21 in Fort McMurray.

In September, Total E&P Canada received approval from the Energy Resources Conservation Board to construct an upgrader in Strathcona County.